The NWT Literacy Council wishes you all a happy holiday and all the best in the New Year.

Family Literacy Day - January 27th

January 27th is Family Literacy Day in Canada. What are you doing to celebrate? The NWT Literacy Council will be sending out packages with How to Kits, promotional items and suggestions of things that you can do to celebrate in your community. Watch for them in the New Year. The How to Kits will also be available on our website at www.nwt.literacy.ca. Check out the ABC Canada Family Literacy site at http://www.abc-canada.org/fld-jaf/

NWT Literacy Council Annual Report

Didn't get a copy of the NWT Literacy Council's Annual Report? You can download it from our website at http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/aboutus/annreprt/2002-03/1.htm

Best Practices in Action

January 15th, 2004 is the final deadline for submitting your ideas for the Best Practices in Action project. You still have time! You can download the draft Best Practices document and a submission form. For more information, go to the NWT Literacy Council website http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/adultlit/bestprac/menu.htm

Math Computer Program

This computer program was suggested by Kate Nonesuch, an instructor from BC. It is called "Valgetal" which is Dutch for "Falling Numbers." You can download a demo copy at http://www.valgetal.com. The program helps students practice basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; the levels go from dead slow (level 1) to very fast at level 20; and it asks the students to concentrate on strategy rather than the number facts themselves. AND it's cheap and it looks good and there are no bugs.

Check out ABC Canada's math literacy website at http://www.abc-canada.org/math_literacy/

Websites

ARCTIC TRANSECT 2004 (http://www.polarhusky.com/portal.html)

Great website for northern resources including:

New Resources

Two books are available from Kate Nonesuch and are great high interest, low vocabulary books, with photographs:

More Like a Camp-Out by Monica Dick
A new photo-story about a hike that turns into a near-disaster, but Monica keeps her cool. $7.00

Why Did It Happen to Me? by Carla Frenchy
Carla gets bad news from her doctor--something is wrong with the baby she is carrying. 16 pages, 11 photos. $7.00

These can be ordered from:

       Malaspina University - College
       Cowichan Campus
       222 Cowichan Way
       Duncan, BC V9L 6P4
       Phone: 205-714-1420
       Fax: 250746-3563

Parent/Child Activities for December

The Peel District School Board has new parent/child activities for the month of December. There are activities for all ages: preschool, elementary, middle and secondary school children. http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/parents/activities/act.htm

Have a wonderful holiday!